Overview

Social Inclusion is increasingly being recognised as a key health and wellbeing issue, and the impacts of social exclusion (social isolation, lack of social connectedness, low social and civic trust, low civic participation, disaffection, and low social support), may be more harmful to health, both physical and mental, than smoking or obesity. Social Inclusion was recognised as a significant local issue across the Inner East by practitioners from community and women’s health. Local governments across the catchment also identified it through municipal health planning consultations. It was also recognised as one of three key social issues for the region by the Eastern Metropolitan Social Issues Council (EMSIC) in 2015.

The Inner East PCP is the backbone organization leading partners to effect change and to facilitate collaboration with local and state government and other community services. Participating organisations are encouraged to identify barriers to social inclusion, and specific groups who are socially excluded, and target actions at both reducing barriers and increasing inclusion of target populations.

Social Inclusion Framework

In 2020 the IEPCP developed and launched a Social Inclusion Framework which guides actions to promote social inclusion and an inclusive society.